Tailgate lift-and-secure cable and latch assembly

Abstract

A lift and secure latch assembly for a vehicle tailgate includes a pair of cables capable of applying upward force to the tailgate and a tensioning mechanism positioned within the tailgate and connected to the support members to apply tension thereto. One of the cables extends from a first lateral end of the tailgate and the other of the cables extends from a second lateral end of the tailgate. The tensioning mechanism is operable between a first position wherein the cables are retracted with the tailgate closed and a second position wherein the cables are extended with the tailgate open. The tensioning mechanism includes a spring member biasing the tensioning mechanism toward the first position. A latch selectively engages the tensioning mechanism to releasably secure the tensioning mechanism in the first position with the tailgate closed. Preferably, the latch is centrally positioned between lateral ends of the tailgate.

1. A lift and secure latch assembly on a vehicle tailgate, the vehicle tailgate pivotable between a closed position and an open position, said lift and secure latch assembly and said vehicle tailgate comprising, in combination:
 a pair of flexible elongate support members capable of applying upward force to the tailgate; 
 wherein one of the pair of support members extends from a first lateral end of the tailgate and the other of the pair of support members extends from a second lateral end of the tailgate; 
 a tensioning mechanism connected to each of the support members to apply tension to each of the support members; 
 wherein the tensioning mechanism is operable between a first position wherein each of the support members are retracted with the tailgate in the closed position and a second position wherein each of the support members are extended with the tailgate in the open position; 
 wherein the tensioning member includes a track, a pair of travelers movable along the track toward and away from each other, a pair of rollers secured to the travelers for movement therewith, and traveler spring members biasing the travelers toward each other; 
 wherein the support members have ends fixed to the tailgate and the support members extend over the rollers so that support members move the travelers away from each other against the bias of the traveler spring members as the tailgate moves toward the open position and the travelers move toward one another due to the bias of the traveler spring members as the tailgate moves toward the closed position; and 
 a latch to releasably secure the tailgate in the closed position, the latch including a latch member pivotably mounted to the tailgate, a latch spring member biasing the latch member to a retaining position where the latch member blocks the travelers from moving way from each other when the tensioning mechanism is in the first position and the tailgate is in the closed position to secure the tailgate in the closed position, and a handle secured to the latch member to manually move the latch member out of the retaining position against the bias of the latch spring member and release the travelers so that the tensioning mechanism can move from the first position to the second position and the tailgate can move from the closed position to the open position, wherein the travelers move away from each other against the bias of the traveler spring members as the tensioning mechanism moves from the first position to the second position and the tailgate moves from the closed position to the open position, wherein the travelers have camming surfaces which move the latch member out of the retaining position against the bias of the latch spring member as the travelers move toward each other when the tensioning mechanism moves from the second position to the first position and the tailgate moves from the open position to the closed position, and wherein the latch member resiliently snaps back into the retaining position to block the travelers from moving away from each other when the tensioning mechanism reaches the first position and the tailgate reaches the closed position as the tailgate moves from the open position to the closed position. 
 
     
     
       2. The lift and secure latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning mechanism is positioned within the tailgate. 
     
     
       3. The lift and secure latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the latch is centrally positioned between lateral ends of the tailgate. 
     
     
       4. The lift and secure latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support members extend into the interior of the tailgate and about the rollers. 
     
     
       5. The lift and secure latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the traveler spring members are coil tension springs connected to the travelers. 
     
     
       6. The lift and secure latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning mechanism is centrally positioned between lateral ends of the tailgate. 
     
     
       7. The lift and secure latch assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the track is horizontal and laterally extending within the tailgate. 
     
     
       8. The lift and secure latch assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the travelers horizontally move along the track. 
     
     
       9. The lift and secure latch assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pylon located between the travelers and wherein the spring members extend in each direction from the pylon to the travelers. 
     
     
       10. The lift and secure latch assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the pylon is centrally located along the track. 
     
     
       11. The lift and secure latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the rollers are pivotably mounted to the travelers.